A NEAPOLITAN TRAGEDY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7066, 19 January 1885, Page 4

A NEAPOLITAN TRAGEDY.

The following tragic story is told in the Naples journals :— Signor Alfonso de Stefano, Marquis of OgHastri, lived in judicaii separation from his wife, who went to live in Capodiinonte, and Signor de Stefano occupied the first floor of a house oppoiito to hers. Signor tie Sfcefauo had a handsome woman named Lusia Peccherina, agt j d thirty-four, who lately began to boast of certain rights, and to show fits of jealousy at the close neighborhood of the Marquis' wife. Many friends of the married couple tried to bring about a reconciliation, and lately seemed about to Bucceed. They spoke to Lusia about leaving the house, but she replied she would rather die. Up to this point all is clear, but afterwards our report is more uncertain. At 5 a.m. on the 30th of September the porter of the house and his wife heard frightful screams. They ran up the staircase and found Lusia _ lying on the stairs, near the story inhabited by Signor de Stefano, all on fire and twisting about in her agony. Running to fetch water, they shortly extinguished the flames, and carried the unhappy woman, who seemed already dead, into Signor de Stefano's room, where they laid her on a mattress. The authorities were sent for, and, on arriving, found Signor de Stefano also in bed, complaining of severe burns. He showed his hands and legs scorched and swollen, and said that Lusia had tried to kill herself by throwing petroleum over herself and setting it on fire, and that in trying to prevent her he had run the risk of being burnt alive. He added that the woman had been seized with temporary aberration after having a violent altercation with himself about some shirts she had ironed badly. Meanwhile Lusia, who was in a dying state, but had recovered her senses, was interrogated by the constable. In a few brief words she made a terrible accuaation against Signor de Stefano. She related that while she was preparing the coffee her master entered the room and covered her with petroleum ; the flames of the coffee machine had immediately set the petroleum on fire, and she in an agony of pain bad rushed out of the door on to the landing. Immediately after this short recital Lusia Peccherina was transported to the Hospital of the Incurabili, where the died at dawn on Ist of October. Signor de Stefano was taken to the Hospital Pellegrini, where he lies guarded by policemen.